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Welcome and thank you for visiting our website. Like many visitors, you are probably seeking information and guidance regarding very important health care issues. The following pages will provide information to help you as well as provide an overview of our medical practice.
Our Mission Our mission is perfectly clear: to provide you with compassionate, state-of-the-art medical and surgical eye care that enhances the quality of your life, ”Keeping Your World in Focus.” We are dedicated to preserving and restoring your best vision through optical, medical and surgical care of the eye and the visual system. Our Services We are the only practice in the Greater Fall River area to feature the combination of board certified ophthalmologists, licensed optometrists and registered opticians. With our highly trained professionals, latest in diagnostic equipment, ophthalmic lasers, microsurgical techniques, contact lenses and eyewear, we are committed to protecting the precious gift of sight. Among the many ophthalmic services our doctors provide are:
Visiting Our Practice Appointments Our staff will be pleased to assist you in any way possible and every effort will be made to accommodate your schedule. Our telephones are answered Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. To schedule an appointment please call (508) 677-0041. New patients are always welcome! Our office hours are as follows:
To help provide timely service to our patients, we prefer to schedule all visits. If you arrive later than 30 minutes for your appointment, we will try to work you back into the schedule. Out of courtesy to our other patients, we may be forced to ask you to reschedule your appointment. Cancellations If you are unable to keep an appointment, we ask that you kindly provide us with at least 48 hours notice. This courtesy, on your part will make it possible to give our appointment to another patient. Emergencies Valet Parking In an effort to better serve our patients, we offer the option of free valet parking. This service is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. So pull up to the door and enjoy the convenience of hassle-free parking. It is one way of saying thank you for choosing Center for Sight.
Depending on your medical status and your optical needs, your initial eye exam will take about ¾ to 1 ½ hours. Please arrive 15 minutes early to fill out the paperwork. You can help us to provide you with a thorough examination by bringing the following:
Your eyes may be dilated, which means they will be sensitive to light, and your near vision will be blurry. They will remain dilated for about 3-4 hours. We highly recommend that you bring someone with you who can drive you home after the exam. If you are seeing one of our ophthalmologists, your exam will begin with a technician recording a complete medical history, checking your vision and intraocular pressure, as well as other tests, based on your individual needs. Your glasses will be checked and, if indicated, refraction will be done to determine if there has been a change in your prescription. The doctor will evaluate the test results and examine the health of your eyes in order to determine if there are any medical problems or a need for new glasses. The doctor will discuss the findings of the exam, and treatment options if necessary for you. Any questions or concerns you may have will also be addressed at this time. During your visit, please feel free to ask any questions about your eyesight. We will be glad to answer those questions and provide you with additional written information that we have available.
The best medical care can be provided only on the basis of mutual understanding. We encourage you to ask any questions you may have regarding our financial policies with our billing staff. Health Care Plans We participate in most health insurance plans and will be glad to submit a claim on your behalf. In many circumstances, you are responsible only for applicable co-payments and deductibles before the visit. However, not all insurance plans cover routine eye care, which would mean that, payment is required on the day of your exam for all services not covered. It is important to realize that insurance companies have different plans such as HMO’s, PPO’s, and POS. Please check your insurance handbook or check with your insurance company before scheduling an appointment to be sure that we are a participating provider. It is important to bring your insurance cards with you for every office visit. Some plans require you to obtain authorization for services from your primary care provider (internist, family practitioner, pediatrician, etc.). It is your responsibility to obtain this authorization from your primary care provider. If this information is required by your insurance company, this must be done before you visit our office. Failure to obtain a valid referral may result in the patient being financially responsible for any charges incurred. Private Insurance Carriers – No Insurance Payment is expected at the time of your visit for all services and procedures unless prior arrangements are made. If you have insurance coverage through a carrier with which we do not have a participating agreement, we will provide you with a receipt which has procedure and diagnosis codes necessary to submit for reimbursement. Our insurance staff will be happy to assist you with instructions for completing your claim form. Most insurance companies will accept this statement with no additional forms needed. Medicare We are a participating provider with the Medicare program (accepts assignment). This means that, with a valid signature on file, we will file all claims, and accept the amount approved by Medicare. (Medicare pays 80% of the approved amount and the patient is responsible for the remaining 20% and any deductible not satisfied to date by the patient) Medicare covers all “medically necessary” services. Medicare does not cover routine eye exams and refractions (examination for glasses) and, therefore, payment for these examinations is due at the time of service. If you have a Medicare HMO for your health care coverage, a referral from your primary care physician is required for any medical eye care provided. Refraction Policy The refraction portion of the eye exam is performed to determine if glasses, or a change in your current spectacle correction, will provide the best possible vision of the eye. A written prescription is given if this would be helpful in improving an individual’s visual acuity level. Please be aware that most insurance plans, including Medicare, do not cover this portion of the eye examination. If you have a separate Vision Plan that covers routine eye examinations, please let us know since it may assist you with your eye care needs that are not covered by your medical plan. For your convenience, we accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover and bank debit cards.
Please bring all health insurance information with you. We will update and copy your insurance cards at each office visit. If you have any questions regarding Medicare and insurance policies and procedures, do not hesitate to ask. We will do our best to assist you. To speak with a representative in our billing department, you may call direct to (508) 677-1921 ext. 33.
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Your First Visit
Payment and Insurance
